Credit

Caption

Crash testing. High-speed photograph of a crash test dummy in a car, colliding with a truck fitted with a front underrun guard (black, lower right). Underrun guards are fitted to the front or rear of trucks and lorries, and are designed to deform (crumple) during a collision with a car, as seen here. Crumpling absorbs much of the energy of a crash, reducing fatalities. The guard also lowers the point of impact between the vehicles, ensuring that the car's front crumple zones work to their maximum. Footage of the crash, along with analysis of damage to the vehicles and sensor readings from the dummy, may be used to improve vehicle design and road safety. Photographed at TRL, UK.